# NTSB MIA94LA033: Cessna 150M, N6053K, Punta Gorda, FL, December 2, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 2, 1993, 15:50 local (20:50 UTC) - Place: Punta Gorda, FL - Coordinates: 26.909595, -81.76992 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.9096&lon=-81.7699&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37466 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA94LA033 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37466/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA033 ## Probable cause THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND'S IMPROPER USE OF CARBURETOR HEAT DURING A VFR APPROACH FOR LANDING. THIS RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL SYSTEM CARBURETOR ICING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - fuel system,carburetor - ice - carburetor heat - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH FOR LANDING. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER ON LANDING ROLLOUT. THE PILOT STATED ON BASE LEG THE CARBURETOR HEAT WAS TURNED ON. THE ENGINE STARTED SPUTTERING ON FINAL APPROACH, POWER WAS INCREASED, AND THE CARBURETOR HEAT WAS TURNED OFF, ON, AND THE ENGINE QUIT. REVIEW OF THE PROBABILITY ICING CHART REVEALED THE ENGINE WOULD ENCOUNTER SERIOUS ICING AT GLIDE POWER BASED ON THE WEATHER OBSERVATION AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ## Factual narrative On December 2, 1993, at about 1550 eastern standard time, a Cessna 150M, registered to David Byers, operated by Professional Aviation, as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, experienced a loss of engine power on final approach for landing. The student pilot made a forced landing, and the airplane nosed over on landing roll. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Okeechobee, Florida, about 50 minutes before the accident. The student pilot stated in a telephone conversation with the NTSB investigator-in-charge, that she departed Punta Gorda in the morning at about 0930. She made three intermediate stops, and refueled at two of the stops before departing Okeechobee, Florida, at 1500 for Punta Gorda. Upon arrival she entered an extended downwind for runway 09 due to traffic. The before landing check was completed on base leg and the carburetor heat was turned on. At about 600 feet agl after turning to final approach, the engine started sputtering. The power was increased with no noticeable response. The carburetor heat was turned off and turned back on, and the engine quit. A distress call was made and a forced landing was initiated. The airplane touched down on a road that was perpendicular to the final approach. When the nose gear touched down, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Examination of the engine assembly and accessories by the FAA revealed no evidence of a precrash failure or malfunction. The FAA aviation safety inspector stated in a written statement, "The failure of this engine was due to apparent carburetor icing." Review of the probability carburetor icing chart revealed that the engine would encounter serious icing at glide power based on the weather observation at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6053K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6053K-1997-02-24), registration cancelled 1997-02-24, S/N 15077497 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M - Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15077497 - Airframe hours: 5456 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Professional Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 30, 1993, 15 hours before - Departed: OBE, OKEECHOBEE, FL - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 45 total, 45 in this make and model, 16 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FMY, 18 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19931202047079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931202047079A), Dec 2, 1993: Cessna 150M, Punta Gorda, FL, Substantial damage. Engine quit on final. Landed short on road and nosed over. No anomalies found. Suspect carburetor icing. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.